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 The tradition of Texas blues is as wide as Texas itself. Sometimes it is easy to
wonder if new blood can be struck from the same old vein. Just the opposite
would be true of Robin Sylar. Faithful but forceful interpretations of vintage
instrumentals are only a part of the Sylar story. Robin Sylar has played with
blues icons Stevie Ray Vaughan (in their group Krackerjack), Doyle Bramhall
(bass, guitar & vocals - Bird Nest on the Ground), James Harmon, Big Joe Turner,
George Smith, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Marcia Ball, Randy McAllister, Robert
Ealey, U.P. Wilson and even joined Canned Heat for a year. In this, his second
recording for Topcat records, Robin Sylar has achieved a consistency of feeling
that is rare in today's blues recordings. His song writing is a breath of cool
air in a crowded train car, something too refreshing to go un-noticed. The band
used by Sylar for the session was comprised of Phil Bennison (pka. Homer
Henderson) and Jim Milan on bass, Rex Mauney on keyboards and superb drumming by
Kevin Schermerhorn. Besides tearing up the stage across Texas, Robin Sylar's a
guy that likes to have fun-and on this recording session, he'll take you to the
limit. Producer Wes Race just let these guys do it their way and it shows right
from the blistering first track: "Bust Out," to the finale "Flashback," an eight
minute and 40 second guitar lesson! Some of the major highlights start at #3:
"Dynomite Nitro", an up-tempo shuffle, complete with an appropriate amount of
vocal distortion which sounds like he's singing through an old 60s "Fuzzbox!"
Number four. (Bertha Lu) takes on a tough edge with some hilarious lyrics. The
song "Scratchy" is a cross between Link Wray and Davie Allan & The Arrows, with
Fahey-esque sound effects-and all hell breaks loose! His guitar takes a step
beyond on track #6: "Wild Cherry." There are fifteen tracks, and you've got to
think fun. That's what this record is all about-hell raising. Screamin' Jay
Hawkins would've loved these guys. Check 'em out and put a smile on your face!
Click  to listen to Samples |
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1. |
Bust Out |
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2. |
Louisiana Lava Man |
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3. |
Dynamite Nitro |
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4. |
Bertha Lu |
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5. |
Scratchy |
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6. |
Wild Cherry |
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7. |
Delivery Boy |
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8. |
Dux |
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9. |
Taken For A Ride |
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10. |
Double Dip |
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11. |
Queen Of The Hop |
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12. |
Steel Trap |
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13. |
Wild Angels |
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14. |
Made Up My Mind |
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15. |
Flashback |
Personnel includes: Robin Sylar (vocals, guitars, bass, steel drum); Robin
Sylar (vocals, guitar, bass, steel drum, sound effects); Phil Bennison (vocals,
bass, bongos, steel drums, maracas); Rex Mauney (piano, organ); Jim Milan
(bass); Kevin Schermerhorn (drums).
The tradition and diversity of styles of Texas blues is as wide as Texas itself.
It is easy to wonder if new blood can be struck from the same old vein. Robin
Sylar is proof positive, leaving no doubt, that it can.
In Tricked Out, his third recording for TopCat Records, Sylar, has "raised the
bar", reaching stratospheric new heights with his unique vision and style. He
leaves musicians and audiences in awe at his stunning mastery of the guitar as
well as his mastery of a wide range of musical genres. He thrives on pushing it
over the edge and back, constantly breaking new ground.
Faithful but forceful interpretations of vintage instrumentals are only part of
the Sylar story. His reputation and pedigree in the music world are well known
and impressive, to say the least. Sylar has played with blues icons Stevie Ray
Vaughan (in their group Krackerjack), Doyle Bramhall (bass, guitar & vocals-
Birdnest On The Ground), James Harmon, Big Joe Turner, George "Harmonica" Smith,
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Marcia Ball, Randy McAllister, Robert Ealey, U. P.
Wilson and he even joined Canned Heat for a year back in the late 70s.
Robin Sylar's a guy that likes to have fun-and on Tricked Out, he'll take you to
the limit. Producers Wes Race and Richard Chalk just let Sylar do it his way and
it shows right from the blistering first track "You're Gonna Miss Me," to the
finale "Pipeline." Sylar is backed by a bevy of top North Texas musicians
including Johnny Mack, Homer Henderson, Kevin Schermerhorn and Bobby Baronowski.
There are fifteen sizzling tracks, and you've got to think hell raising fun.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins would've loved these guys. Tricked Out is sure to receive
great reviews and will certainly beone of the top CD releases of 2004.
| Click to listen to Samples |
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1. |
You're Gonna Miss Me |
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2. |
Shaking All Over |
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3. |
Iko Iko |
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4. |
Hollywood Millionaire |
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5. |
Heart Of Stone |
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6. |
Pretty Girls |
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7. |
Shot Time |
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8. |
Back To Iuka
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9. |
Surf Puppy |
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10. |
Can't Judge A Book |
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11. |
Misirlou |
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12. |
Sugar Bee |
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13. |
Hand Jive |
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14. |
Wine Spo-dee-odee |
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15. |
Pipeline |
Notes Personnel includes: Robin Sylar; Doyle Bramhall (vocals, guitar,
harmonica, lap steel, piano, organ, bass); Johnny Mack (vocals); James Hinkle
(guitar); Homer Henderson, Eric Mathew (bass); Bobby Baronowski, Kevin
Schermerhorn, Marc Wilson (drums); Beer Belly Slim (background vocals). Recorded
at Eagle Audio and Keys Lounge, Ft. Worth, Texas; Millennium Sound Lab, Dallas,
Texas. Includes liner notes by Tim Schuller.
Recorded live in 1970 at the Vulcan Gas Company club in Austin, Texas as a demo tape, these are five rare live recordings of Robin Sylar in his raw prime.
Re-mastered from an old crusty reel-to-reel tape in July 2001 by Art Hoffman.
Robin Sylar: Guitar and vocals
Mark Kessel: drums
Fred Holmes: bass guitar
| Click to listen to Samples |
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1. |
Shuffle #1
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2. |
Slow Blues #1 |
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3. |
Shuffle #2
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4. |
Slow Blues #2
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5. |
Funky Shuffle #1
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